Luis Alfaro, 17, appeared in court Friday morning, where a judge kept his bond at $150,000.
Alfaro's attorney said he felt compelled to tell us about his client and respond to allegations that he is a gang member.
Ever since Wednesday's fatal stabbing at Spring High School, images of Alfaro have come from a mug shot and video of him in handcuffs. Alfaro has also been portrayed as a gang member, his attorney Milan Marinkovich says, primarily by the sheriff's office. But Marinkovich says Alfaro is a good kid, who has a job at a fast food restaurant to help his family. He said Alfaro does not have a criminal record and that there is no evidence that he is a gang member.
Marinkovich said there is another side of the story that no one has told, saying Alfaro was repeatedly bullied at school, and was under attack when the stabbing occurred. If Alfaro did stab the victim, Joshua Broussard and the three others who were injured, which he says has not been proven, it would have only been in self defense.
"My client was being attacked by three, possibly four individuals, being punched repeatedly in the head and the face," Marinkovich said. "If you go on to take a look at his booking photo, I've actually met with him and seen him, he has a number of bruises above his eye, below his eye."
Alfaro's attorney said his client's bond was reduced to $140,000, but added that he is worried for his safety when he leaves the jail. He says that even the Alfaro family has received threats on their lives.
Alfaro's formal arraignment is scheduled for October 1.
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